Health Indicator Report of Activity Limitation

Why Is This Important?

Persons whose activities are limited due to physical, mental, or emotional problems may need more specialized health care than persons without such limitation. Their medical costs are generally higher and they are more likely to miss days from school or work.

Chart

Data Table

Activity Limitation, Utah and U.S., 2001-2015

Data Notes

Notes

Age adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population. The U.S. data include the States and D.C., but do not include the U.S. territories. In 2002, only Utah and 22 other states asked the question. Utah did not ask this question in 2016 and 2017.
Starting in 2009, the BRFSS included both landline and cell phone respondent interviews along with a new weighting methodology called iterative proportional fitting, or raking. More details about these changes can be found at: [https://ibis.health.utah.gov/pdf/opha/resource/brfss/RakingImpact2011.pdf].
Note: At the time of this update, the BRFSS U.S. dataset did not include an age variable but did include five age categories up to age 80+ (vs. the typical weighting scheme that includes 85+). Comparisons with both weighting schemes were compared using Utah data, and the difference was about 1/100 of a percentage point.

Data Interpretation Issues

Question Text: "Are you limited in any way in any activities because of physical, mental, or emotional problems?"
Beginning in 2011, BRFSS data include both landline and cell phone respondent data along with a new weighting methodology called iterative proportional fitting, or raking. This methodology utilizes additional demographic information (such as education, race, and marital status) in the weighting procedure. Both of these methodology changes were implemented to account for an increased number of U.S. households without landline phones and an under-representation of certain demographic groups that were not well-represented in the sample. More details about these changes can be found at: [https://ibis.health.utah.gov/pdf/opha/resource/brfss/RakingImpact2011.pdf].
As with all surveys, some error results from nonresponse (e.g., refusal to participate in the survey or to answer specific questions), and measurement (e.g., social desirability or recall bias). Error was minimized by use of strict calling protocols, good questionnaire design, standardization of interviewer behavior, interviewer training, and frequent, on-site interviewer monitoring and supervision.

Health Indicator Definition

Definition

Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who reported activity limitation.

Numerator

Number of survey respondents who reported activity limitation.

Denominator

Total number of survey respondents excluding those with missing, 'Don't know/Not sure' and 'Refused' responses.

Health Objectives and Targets

Other Objectives

Activity limitation is one of the Foundational Health Measures for General Health Status for Healthy People 2020.

Current Outlook

How Are We Doing?

In 2015, approximately 17.3% (crude rate) of Utah adults reported having some type of activity limitation due to a physical, mental, or emotional problem. This percentage ranged from 10.9% for adults aged 18-34 years to 32.1% for adults aged 65 years and older.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

The age-adjusted percentage of Utah adults who reported any limitation in activities has been slightly lower than the U.S. rate over the years. In 2015, 17.9% (17.1-18.8%) of adults in Utah reported some activity limitation and 19.3% (19.1-19.6%) of adults in the U.S. reported activity limitation.

Health Improvement

Available Services

The Utah Department of Human Services Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD) promotes opportunities and provides support for persons with disabilities to lead self-determined lives.
Services for People with Disabilities[[br]]
195 North 1950 West[[br]]
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116[[br]]
Phone: (801) 538-4200[[br]]
Fax: (801) 538-4279[[br]]
TTY: (801) 538-4192[[br]]
Toll Free: 1-800-837-6811[[br]]
[http://www.dspd.utah.gov/]
The Utah Department of Human Services Division of Aging & Adult Services (DAAS) administers a wide variety of home and community-based services for Utah residents who are 60 or older. The Aging Services Program is responsible for the provision of services needed by the elderly as set forth in the Older Americans Act and funded by the federal, state, and local governments. Aging services provides programs such as home delivered meals (Meals on Wheels), home and community based alternative services and waiver services, health insurance programs, long-term care ombudsman, and community service employment programs.
Aging Services Administrative Office[[br]]
195 North 1950 West[[br]]
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116[[br]]
(801) 538-3910[[br]]
Toll free: 1-877-424-4640[[br]]
Fax (801) 538-4395[[br]]
[http://www.daas.utah.gov]
The Bureau of Health Facility Licensing, Certification and Resident Assessment at the Utah Department of Health provides valuable information such as the Assisted Living Facilities Report Card. The report card and other consumer information are available at [http://health.utah.gov/hflcra].
Toll Free Phone Number: (800) 662-4157[[br]]
Salt Lake Area: (801) 538-6158

Utah DOH

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